We Americans are very particular about body odor. Unlike other cultures it’s considered uncouth to let your natural body odors shine. And I’m the first to admit that natural deodorants sometimes don’t work. I’ve been through my share, and in fact, the transition to natural deodorants was the last big change after every other toiletry in my cabinet was already natural or organic.
That said--you can find natural deodorants that actually work. They’re out there, you just have to know what you’re looking for at the health foods store. Also, choosing a natural deodorant also means you have to stop trying to block the body’s natural processes. We sweat, that’s what we’re supposed to do and no matter how hard you try and block sweat with overly scented antiperspirants, you can’t. In fact, I think they make you sweat even more.
If your sweat stinks that’s a indication that you may need to overhaul your diet. Increasing your intake of fruits and vegetables and decreasing your intake of processed food and coffee can do a lot to reduce the acidity and stink in your sweat. And then it’s time to choose a natural deodorant. Here are a few:
1. Kiss My Face Liquid Rock Roll-Ons
This is the deodorant that I most often purchase in the lavender scent though it also comes in patchouli, sport, and cucumber green tea. It does contain potassium alum, a naturally occurring aluminum salt but it’s not the same as aluminum chlorohydrate or aluminum zirconium, which are feared to cause breast cancer. And it’s the least expensive at $6.
2. Weleda Deodorants
This is a unisex spray on deodorant (roll-ons and sprays seems to work much better for me). I’m a fan of wild rose and I think it works better than the other scents: sage and citrus. It contains all biodynamic ingredients like licorice root, which is a natural pH balancer and tea tree oil, which is a natural bacteria killer. It’s also aluminum free. But it’s relatively expensive at $15 per bottle.
3. Erbaviva
Erbaviva is USDA certified organic and aluminum free. It doesn’t clog pores and it’s also unisex. The product is more expensive than the other three, coming in at $18 but the ingredients are high quality and the product lasts.
When you’re looking for good natural deodorant products consider the following:
- Avoid aluminum
- Avoid unregulated “natural” claims
- Avoid triclosan
- Avoid parabens
- Avoid petrochemicals like PEG
This article was originally published on www.NaturallySavvy.com
*Image of “deodorants“ via Shutterstock
